IL Durham Bulls

Durham Drops Syracuse 7-6 in Ten Innings

Published on April 23, 2023 under International League (IL)
Durham Bulls News Release


SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Bulls left fielder Niko Hulsizer clubbed four hits, including three doubles, while catcher Rene Pinto smashed a home run and starter Evan McKendry fired five solid innings to give Durham their tenth win in eleven contests with a 7-6 extra-inning victory over the Syracuse Mets on Sunday afternoon at NBT Bank Stadium.

1B Tristan Gray ripped an RBI single into right in the tenth to push Durham ahead before Hulsizer drove in his second run of the day with a sacrifice fly to up the lead to two. That second run that would prove crucial when Syracuse plated one run in the last of the frame yet were unable to erase their deficit.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Jose Siri started the scoring for the Bulls in the first, ripping an RBI double to right-center for his first hit as part of his Major League Rehab Assignment. After the Mets answered with a tally in the last of the first, Hulsizer smashed his first of three doubles, a run-scoring two-bagger to left, to give Durham a 2-1 advantage.

2B Tanner Murray later increased the margin to three with a two-run double down the left field line in the fourth before Pinto one inning later exited the yard with a solo blast to left-center to make it a 5-1 Bulls lead. The Mets, however, would even the contest with a four-run eighth frame to force the extra frame.

Hulsizer (4-4, 1 R, 3 2B, 2 RBI) recorded a game-high four hits, and was the only batter from his side to post a multi-hit effort. Syracuse DH DJ Stewart (2-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB) and LF Carlos Cortes (2-4, 1 R), meanwhile, each tallied two knocks.

McKendry (5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO) yielded a lone earned run over five solid innings, though he did not factor in the final decisions. Bulls reliever Heath Hembree (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO) earned the win, while Trevor Kelley (1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 SO) notched the save. Mets relief man Grant Hartwig (2.0 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) suffered the loss.

Following their Monday off day, the Bulls return to Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Tuesday, April 25 to start a six-game homestand against the Memphis Redbirds, the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch of the series opener is set for 11:05am.

Tickets for that game and all 2023 Durham Bulls home games are available, and can be purchased at DurhamBulls.com, or by calling 919.956.BULL.

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International League Stories from April 23, 2023


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